The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2018 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16, 2018. The 2018 event will showcase the top national and international canine athletes and will also […]

Middleburg, Virginia—Paintings from the American Kennel Club collection will be part of the National Sporting Library & Museum’s “Side-by-Side with Gun and Dog” exhibition, celebrating three centuries of the unique partnership of hunter and gundog. The ambitious show contains American, British, and French "fur-and-feather" art on loan from the collections of the Adirondack Museum, Detroit […]

No matter how attractive the dog, if he does not exude the correct breed type he must not be rewarded. Breed type is what our sport is about. A judge must first and foremost learn and understand the key elements that constitute the essence of type for each breed that he judges. A judge must […]

The first thing you should know about 2½-year-old Floyd is that he’s relentless... and a lifesaver. Last autumn, after his owner Leon Green, 57, and his family returned home to Kirkland, Wash., outside of Seattle, from a two-week vacation in Maui, Hawaii, Floyd, a Berger Picard, began burying his nose in Green’s armpits and groin […]

Here at the AKC we have an amazing art collection that we would like all of you to see. We couldn't think of a better way to show it than with our favorite art loving French Bulldog, Miss Pickle, from @PickleBeholding. This is Pickle, a five-year-old local of Brooklyn, New York. She loves art and sharing […]

Photo Coverage Day 1 -- April 1, 2014 The first day of the Championship began under mainly cloudy skies and a very chilly 20 degrees. There was a strong north wind. As the day progressed the temperatures rose into the 50's, the skies cleared, and the winds diminished making for pleasant conditions. Humidity was very […]

Showing dogs is a fun sport where the thrill of competition is combined with the joy of seeing beautiful dogs. Dog shows, or conformation events, originated as a way for breeders to evaluate their breeding stock. While the purpose remains, dog shows are a great opportunity to socialize with people in your breed and develop […]

Most dog owners would probably tell you that a cold, wet nose on their canine companion signals a healthy pup. Likewise, many believe a dog is sick when his nose is dry — but is this true? Before we get into that debate, we first need to understand why dogs have wet noses. The answer […]

Has your English Setter been getting a few too many treats lately? If so, maybe he’s gained a couple of pounds. Like humans, our canine friends benefit from a periodic assessment of their weight. Most English Setters love to eat. They will eat anything, anywhere, anytime, even if they just had a meal. Food pushed […]

Each month, the American Kennel Club (AKC) profiles breeders to hear how they got started and learn about their breeding program and experience with AKC Marketplace. We recently spoke with Cathy Lewandowski of SoftMaple Curly-Coated Retrievers in Croghan, N.Y. Lewandowski is an AKC Breeder of Merit who has produced versatile, top-winning dogs. Lewandowski's love for […]